The oriental pearl tower (东方明珠) was built in 1991, put in use in 1994, and opened to the public in 1995. Standing at 468 meters (1535 feet), It is one of the earliest skyscrapers in Shanghai and still the sixth-highest building in Asia, 9th highest building worldwide. It is the pride and icon of this metropolis, and there was even a popular song about it in the late 1990s.
It includes three major spheres at 1148 feet, 876 feet, and 296 feet, respectively, and is integrated with various functions, like sightseeing, dining, shopping, entertaining, exhibition, performance, and transmitting TV and radio signals.
Table of Contents
- Basic information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Oriental Pearl Tower
- Vlog about Oriental Pearl Tower
- Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
- Interesting Facts
- Attractions Near Oriental Pearl Tower
Basic information
| Website | https://www.orientalpearltower.com/ |
| Estimated Length of tour | 1-3 hours |
| Opening hours | 09.00 – 21.00 throughout the year |
| Last entry | 20.30 |
Ticket price
| The Tower | Package A: 220 RMB: 3 spheres + Shanghai history museum on the ground floor Package B: 219 RMB: The lowest and second spheres + Shanghai history museum and landmark gallery on the ground floor Package C: 199 RMB: The lowest and second spheres + Shanghai history museum on the ground floor |
| The Revolving Restaurant | Package D: 368 RMB: The lowest and second spheres + Shanghai history museum on the ground floor + buffet in the revolving restaurant Package E: 458 RMB for two people: The second sphere + afternoon tea in the revolving restaurant |
| The Cruise | Package F: 259 RMB: The lowest and second spheres + Shanghai history museum on the ground floor + cruise trip on Huangpu River (45 minutes) Package G: 160 RMB: Cruise trip on Huangpu River in a stateroom (45 minutes) Package H: 130 RMB: Cruise trip on Huangpu River in first class (45 minutes) |
| Children | enjoy a half-price discount between 1 and 1.4 meters free of charge below 1 meter |
Location and Transportation
The Oriental Pearl TV tower is located in Lujiazui, in the Pudong district, right opposite the bund across the Huangpu River. To get there, you can take the bus, subway, or drive yourself.
Bus: Take bus 82 or 314 and get off at Lujiazui Huanlu Fenghelu Station.
Subway: Take subway line 2, get off at Lujiazui Station, leave the station from exit 2 and walk northwest for about 370 meters
Self-drive: There are plenty of parking lots near the Oriental Pearl Tower. You never need to worry about the parking space.
Highlights of Oriental Pearl Tower
A bird’s eye view of the city
As one of the highest buildings in Shanghai, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the metropolis in the highest sphere (the Space Module) at 351 meters (1151 feet). According to the reviews of former tourists, it is the most impressive scenery when the night falls, and various landscape lights are turned on.
Transparent sky walking
The floor of the lower deck in the second sphere at 259 meters (849 feet) is made of transparent glass. Stepping on it is like walking in the air, and you can see the landscapes, roads, cars, and people right beneath you. It is a huge challenge to your gut and not very friendly to those with heart diseases.
Revolving restaurant
Also, in the second sphere, there is a revolving restaurant providing a buffet at 267 meters (875 feet). It finishes a full rotation in two hours. If you are not in a hurry, you may have a romantic dinner here and fully appreciate the night view of Shanghai.
Shanghai history museum
The Shanghai Urban History Exhibition Hall is located at the base of the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower. It showcases over 80 exhibits through various sections, including Urban Landscape, Opening Port Overview, The Bund, Old Shanghai, Architectural Expo, and the Spring and Autumn of Transport. The hall features hundreds of precious historical artifacts, over a hundred scaled-down historical buildings, 117 high-quality wax figures, and thousands of small wax figures and clay figurines. These exhibits reflect the development of Shanghai’s urban history.
Vlog about Oriental Pearl Tower
Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
Optimal Visiting Time: Mornings typically have fewer visitors compared to the afternoon, especially if you’re not specifically going to see the night view. It’s recommended to visit in the morning, especially during important holidays, as the crowds tend to be lighter. Arriving around 8 a.m. is advisable for a more comfortable experience.
Reducing Queue Time: Consider purchasing tickets for the revolving buffet restaurant located in the upper half of the Oriental Pearl Tower’s second sphere at a height of 267 meters. The restaurant rotates once every two hours. However, there are time restrictions for dining: 1.5 hours for lunch and 2 hours for dinner. The advantage of dining here is that you can access the restaurant through the fast-track lane, and after dining, you can directly descend the stairs to the second sphere.
Photography Tips: The second sphere has many pillars, which may obstruct clear shots of people. However, descending one level from the second sphere (use the stairs) will lead you to the fully transparent glass-bottomed skywalk, which offers excellent photo opportunities.
Third Sphere Experience: The third sphere, which is the smallest one, houses a mini space capsule with a diameter of only 16 meters. It is 90 meters higher than the second sphere, offering a similar view but at an additional cost of 100 yuan. Many visitors regret spending the extra money, as the view is comparable to that of the second sphere. Therefore, it’s advisable to skip this option unless you are particularly interested in the novelty.
